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Decorating Tips
11 Answers
Hello all. I'm going to be attempting to paint my walls for the first time ever in my life (lounge and bedroom). I haven't bought paint yet but have a colour scheme in mind.
What tips would you give a complete novice like me. eg roller or brush, stroke direction, what type of paint etc.
What tips would you give a complete novice like me. eg roller or brush, stroke direction, what type of paint etc.
Answers
1 to 11 of 11
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Make sure you have a good base coat to kill any previous colour. Use a good quality brush (so hairs don't come out and stick to the wall). I find rollers tricky, but others swear by them. Paint the borders first with a smaller brush so you don't get colour on the ceiling or adjoining wall (masking tape along the joint makes it even safer). Then use a large brush and 'load' it with paint i.e. dip it into the pot and then pull it against the edge of the opening to get rid of excess paint and render it controllable. I use up and down strokes and then go across them. 'Sponging' gives a nice texture. Have fun!
Use a good quality paint. Go to a paint supplier rather than a DIY store and but the stuff the professionals use, it is cheaper but actually better. My oh works for Johnstone's Paints and whenever we decorate we use professional paint for any woodwork and if we use white or magnolia. The colours we use tend to be the stuff the public would usually buy.
I use a paint pad. I'll give you my reasons, then you can make your own choice.
1. Roller. Uses too much paint. Sprinkles it everywhere. But - it's quick and easy. Easy to wash afterwards.
2. Brush. Slow and can make your wrist ache, but it depends on how fit your are. Can leave brush marks if you don't brush it out properly. Easy to wash afterwards.
3. Paint pads win for me. You get a smooth finish (but you still need a brush for the angle with the ceiling and door frames, etc.). They don't throw off sprinkles and splashes. They don't use a lot of paint. Easy to wash afterwards.
Stroke direction. This applies only if you use a brush. To begin, apply the paint in any direction, but finish off with smooth, vertical strokes. With roller or paint pad, stroke direction isn't so important.
Type of paint. Use matt emulsion, but if you want a slightly shiny finish, use silk emulsion.
1. Roller. Uses too much paint. Sprinkles it everywhere. But - it's quick and easy. Easy to wash afterwards.
2. Brush. Slow and can make your wrist ache, but it depends on how fit your are. Can leave brush marks if you don't brush it out properly. Easy to wash afterwards.
3. Paint pads win for me. You get a smooth finish (but you still need a brush for the angle with the ceiling and door frames, etc.). They don't throw off sprinkles and splashes. They don't use a lot of paint. Easy to wash afterwards.
Stroke direction. This applies only if you use a brush. To begin, apply the paint in any direction, but finish off with smooth, vertical strokes. With roller or paint pad, stroke direction isn't so important.
Type of paint. Use matt emulsion, but if you want a slightly shiny finish, use silk emulsion.
don't skimp on dust sheets and cover EVERYTHING you can't remove. Plastic cover sheets are cheaper but any spilt paint stays wet for ages, this is both slippery and you run the risk of walking the spilt paint out of the room, off the drop cloths and onto unprotected floor. Old sheets and towels are useful and more absorbent but put something under sheets so the spilt paint can't soak through. have the rest of the house as clean and tidy as you want it before you start and make sure that meals are sorted and easy, you won't want to start washing up, cooking and so on at the end of a day spent painting. no matter how careful you are, you WILL get paint on yourself, wear your oldest least loved clothes, covering your head is a good idea as well. Keep kids and pets entertained elsewhere.
All good suggestions… here's some more…
Use a good quality latex paint… so much easier to clean up afterwards since it's a water based paint.
Don't use the paint directly from the can… by that I mean, buy one of those paint cups… has a handle on it and hold perhaps a pint or so. This allows you to stir the paint in the can every time you refill the 'cup' and the paint in the can doesn't begin to dry out from being uncovered. Like this: http://
If, you choose to use the paint directly from the can, use a common nail and punch 8 or 10 holes in the valley where the can lid fits into to seal it. This will allow the paint that accumulates there when filling your brush (ala jourdain2's method) to drain back into the can.
Go to your store of choice and by a largish bottle of the cheapest washing fabric softener you can find. You know the kind (I'm in the U.S.) usually pink, smells great and one pours it into a dispenser on the washing machine when doing the laundry. Well… this stuff is the world's best for cleaning brushes and rollers when stopping for the day. Fill a good size pail (one of the cheap, plastic 5 gallon ones that you find at your DIY store) with warm water and pour a large amount (really doesn't matter how much… even the full bottle) of the fabric softener into the pail and stir. Then, simply put your paint rollers and brushes in the pail and swish around thoroughly… rinse in clear water et voila they come out clean and ready to use next time. Rather than trying to dry the brushes, simply hand them up (they have a hole in the handle for this) and let them drip dry.
As to brushes… buy the best quality you can find in about 2 1/2 or 3 inch width with the end tapered. This helps when 'cutting in' borders, etc. When the brush is thoroughly dry as above, wrap it in the Saran type wrap… you know… the sticky clear plastic wrap in the kitchen. This will help it maintain it's original shape when storing.
Rollers… but an extension handle for the roller holder. That way you can stand away from the application… less tiring and gives a better perspective on the finished product. The extension handle should slide in and out of itself with a screwing device to hold the length you want.
Finally, but a package of roller tray fillers… these are inexpensive plastic devices made to fit inside of your roller tray. When you're through, simply discard them.
Good luck!
Use a good quality latex paint… so much easier to clean up afterwards since it's a water based paint.
Don't use the paint directly from the can… by that I mean, buy one of those paint cups… has a handle on it and hold perhaps a pint or so. This allows you to stir the paint in the can every time you refill the 'cup' and the paint in the can doesn't begin to dry out from being uncovered. Like this: http://
If, you choose to use the paint directly from the can, use a common nail and punch 8 or 10 holes in the valley where the can lid fits into to seal it. This will allow the paint that accumulates there when filling your brush (ala jourdain2's method) to drain back into the can.
Go to your store of choice and by a largish bottle of the cheapest washing fabric softener you can find. You know the kind (I'm in the U.S.) usually pink, smells great and one pours it into a dispenser on the washing machine when doing the laundry. Well… this stuff is the world's best for cleaning brushes and rollers when stopping for the day. Fill a good size pail (one of the cheap, plastic 5 gallon ones that you find at your DIY store) with warm water and pour a large amount (really doesn't matter how much… even the full bottle) of the fabric softener into the pail and stir. Then, simply put your paint rollers and brushes in the pail and swish around thoroughly… rinse in clear water et voila they come out clean and ready to use next time. Rather than trying to dry the brushes, simply hand them up (they have a hole in the handle for this) and let them drip dry.
As to brushes… buy the best quality you can find in about 2 1/2 or 3 inch width with the end tapered. This helps when 'cutting in' borders, etc. When the brush is thoroughly dry as above, wrap it in the Saran type wrap… you know… the sticky clear plastic wrap in the kitchen. This will help it maintain it's original shape when storing.
Rollers… but an extension handle for the roller holder. That way you can stand away from the application… less tiring and gives a better perspective on the finished product. The extension handle should slide in and out of itself with a screwing device to hold the length you want.
Finally, but a package of roller tray fillers… these are inexpensive plastic devices made to fit inside of your roller tray. When you're through, simply discard them.
Good luck!
If you are doing all 4 walls and have chosen to use a roller - only cheap rollers splash paint all over - use a roller bucket (with the ridged sides) rather than a tray. As has already been said, sheet up, use a decent emulsion brush to 'cut in' and, when rolling, do it slowly and evenly.
As to which paint to use; silk emulsion is shiny and washable/durable but it will show up any defect in the walls surface, especially when the light shines on it. Matt emulsion is less durable, easier to apply as it spreads better, and does not highlight the surface defects.
When washing rollers, take the sleeve off the frame, run it under the cold tap, whilst squeezing the paint from the sleeve with your free hand. Repeat this until most of the excess paint is gone then use warm soapy water to wash the sleeve for a few minutes. Rinse it under the cold tap, put it back on the roller frame, take it outside and, holding it firmly in one hand, spin it with the other. You will see the water spraying from the roller - if it is clear you have done a good job of cleaning it. If not, back under the cold tap.
To clean your brushes; do as you have done with your roller. Then, once outside, place the handle of the brush between both hands and rub together as if trying to keep warm. Once again you will see the water spray from th brush. If it's clear....................................
As to which paint to use; silk emulsion is shiny and washable/durable but it will show up any defect in the walls surface, especially when the light shines on it. Matt emulsion is less durable, easier to apply as it spreads better, and does not highlight the surface defects.
When washing rollers, take the sleeve off the frame, run it under the cold tap, whilst squeezing the paint from the sleeve with your free hand. Repeat this until most of the excess paint is gone then use warm soapy water to wash the sleeve for a few minutes. Rinse it under the cold tap, put it back on the roller frame, take it outside and, holding it firmly in one hand, spin it with the other. You will see the water spraying from the roller - if it is clear you have done a good job of cleaning it. If not, back under the cold tap.
To clean your brushes; do as you have done with your roller. Then, once outside, place the handle of the brush between both hands and rub together as if trying to keep warm. Once again you will see the water spray from th brush. If it's clear....................................
Also make sure you prepare the areas you are decorating well as defects cannot be put right afterwards without a lot of work. The first coat of paint for the walls will need to be a mist coat or watered down coat of paint as otherwise the paint will dry very quickly and not allow you to get the brush or roller marks out. Also there will be a good chance of it peeling when you come to putting the second coat on as it will not have adhered to the walls properly.
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